BROMSGROVE Conservative Group launched its manifesto for May’s district council elections this week and promised to make the town cleaner and greener if it gets into power.
Leader Geoff Denaro said the recycling of single-use coffee cups in the town centre would be encouraged and schemes similar to ‘Refill Bromsgrove’ would also help tackle plastic waste.
“We will also explore ways to support electric cars by having car charging points within the district.
“Our aim is to deliver not just a bright future for our town but one that is clean, green and sustainable.”
The Tories also pledged to secure resources for the young and old by rolling out outdoor gym equipment suitable for all ages across the district.
To solve the housing crisis the group said it would ‘completely re-balance’ the housing market in Bromsgrove by delivering low-cost housing and renting through redevelopment of existing sites such as Burcot Lane.
“We will create a housing company to allow us much greater flexibility in terms of developing a housing portfolio,” said Coun Denaro.
The pledge comes after it was revealed many people aged between 30 and 39 are leaving the district due to being priced out.
On transport it promised to make ‘progress’ despite admitting it would be a hard road ahead with many issues, including congestion, facing the district.
“Although transport is within the remit of the County Council and not the District Council we are all sick to the back teeth of the ongoing problems.
“We have secured a strategic assessment for the north of the county, including Bromsgrove, and after some campaigning have seen the first package of improvements to the A38 major upgrade for Bromsgrove scheduled to start in the spring at the Barley Mow junction.”
In the town centre and high street section of the manifesto, the Tories said they would make the town’s market a priority.
They will introduce ‘themed markets’ and encourage more people to support local shops.
In response, Labour Leader Michael Thompson said: “This manifesto is essentially meaningless words.
“The Tories can be judged better on their performance over the last few years – tax increases, money wasted and a declining district.
“The irony of the manifesto is in the strap line ‘a town we can live and work in’ – under Tory administration, we have seen no investment in affordable housing and no business strategy to create jobs.”
Visit www.bromsgroveconservatives.org.uk/theplanforbromsgrove to read the manifesto in full.
